Recommendation given to commanding general in Pantano case

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- The officer who presided over a pretrial hearing for a Marine suspected in the murder of two Iraqis has submitted his recommendation on whether the case should go to court-martial, a military spokesman said Friday. Maj. Mark E. Winn has sent the paperwork to Maj. Gen. Richard Huck, said 2nd Lt. Barry Edwards, a spokesman for the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune. Huck will review the recommendation and decide how to continue in the case of 2nd Lt. Ilario Pantano.

Prosecutors in the case allege that Pantano killed two suspected insurgents in April 2004 because he believed they were launching mortars at his troops.

Pantano, a former Wall Street trader who rejoined the Marines after the Sept. 11 attacks, says he acted in self-defense after the men moved toward him.

Winn had been given a week after the close of the hearing April 30 to send his recommendation, but requested an extension.

"There's no timeframe for (Huck) to make a decision," Edwards said Friday. "He will carefully review the evidence and the investigating officer's recommendations before making a decision."

Pantano, 33, continues to work at Lejeune as an assistant training officer helping to develop training regimen

It is something. Evidently from MSNBC, he will only be charged with what he did to the body after he was killed.

That they felt the person pointing the finger at Pantano might have had a personal gain.

Thanks for posting this and PING to the rest.

* * * * * * * * * * *

The officer who presided over a pretrial hearing for a Marine suspected in the murder of two Iraqis has submitted his recommendation on whether the case should go to court-martial, a military spokesman said Friday.

Maj. Mark E. Winn has sent the paperwork to Maj. Gen. Richard Huck, said 2nd Lt. Barry Edwards, a spokesman for the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune.

The hearing officer has recommended that formal accusations of premeditated murder and other crimes against 2nd Lt. Ilario Pantano be withdrawn, stating there is no evidence to support prosecution.

Huck will review the recommendation and decide how to continue in the case of Pantano.

Prosecutors in the case allege that Pantano killed two suspected insurgents in April 2004 because he believed they were launching mortars at his troops.

Pantano, a former Wall Street trader who rejoined the Marines after the Sept. 11 attacks, says he acted in self-defense after the men moved toward him.

Winn had been given a week after the close of the hearing April 30 to send his recommendation, but requested an extension.

"There's no timeframe for [Huck] to make a decision," Edwards said Friday. "He will carefully review the evidence and the investigating officer's recommendations before making a decision."

Pantano, 33, continues to work at Lejeune as an assistant training officer helping to develop training regimens.

Thanks FMC.

Given Pantano's statement about the incident and the other known evidence, this is surprising. It would seem that if it does go to a CM (unlikely now), that the differing statements from the chief complainant would likely not result in a conviction for murder. Apparently the Art 32 officer did not look at other articles including failure to obey orders. I would say that Pantano will be a very lucky young man.

*SIGH* What part of "We're At War" does the MSM not understand? Just let our soliders do their jobs! In wars, people die and things get blown up.

You know what I'd like to see? I'd like to see the Iraqi Terrorist Network start trying some of their own for "war crimes." There must be something somewhere that says "Using cars, trucks, donkey carts and roadside bombs to kill the enemy is unfair." *Rolleyes*

Yeah. That'll happen right after monkeys fly out of Hillary's butt! ;)

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.